Speeches by Doughty.

“I certainly can. I will bring Tom in to confirm this from the official side, but the IHL cell and capability has simply moved. It continues to exist within the ECJU, within the FCDO. It is obviously a crucially important function for assessing UK export licensing decisions, and we continue that work. There was some qui…”

“At our instigation—I was certainly personally involved in this—we conducted a full review of over 3,000 licences and their end users in countries in the region. That includes the UAE. The conclusion was clear: there is no evidence of UK weapons or ammunition being used in Sudan. I really want to be clear with the Commi…”

“To reassure you, this goes well beyond the UAE. We have been looking at the widest possible geography for any possible links where things could have been diverted and ended up fuelling that conflict.”

“As the Foreign Secretary said yesterday and as I have just said, there are multiple countries. It is important to remember that this conflict is being fuelled by two sides and multiple partners arming, aiding and supporting both sides. All that needs to stop. We are raising concerns with every country that is involved …”

“As you pointed out, criterion 1 is concerned with the UK’s international obligations and commitments, including sanctions from the UN Security Council. They are fact-specific assessments. We have not yet seen evidence that UK exports are inconsistent with those obligations. Of course we consider all the SELC criteria a…”

“We have obligations under the entirety of the SELC and consider them all in relation to each individual decision. It is an extremely forensic and careful process. I can assure you—not least given the work that we have done to highlight what is happening in Sudan, our absolute condemnation of it on the international sta…”

“I cannot give you a timeline, but there are some genuine resource constraints in terms of getting these things right. You will appreciate that getting the regime right is crucial, because what we do not want to do is face a huge amount of litigation in the opposite direction that gums up the whole system and affects th…”

“I would completely agree with what has said. As I said, there is a wider question here. As a Minister, I have certainly been frustrated about the capabilities and powers that we have to respond to issues in relation to IHL and more generally in relation to our sanctions regimes. I am regularly having cases raised by co…”

“Correct. It is certainly not years.”

“Well, the threat is very severe, as you point out, Chair. Let us be clear: these settlements are illegal and they should not be taking place. They are not only wrong in themselves, but they threaten that progress towards a two-state solution. We have been very clear about that in our condemnation and in the actions we …”

“I do not think we have all the powers that we need at the moment. I have to say, as the sanctions Minister, that this has been a frustration not just in relation to the issue of settlements, but also in a number of other contexts around the world where we want to take further action. You will understand that it is also…”

“Let me be clear from the outset. What is happening in Sudan is utterly appalling and despicable. The Foreign Secretary, and indeed the previous Foreign Secretary, are two of the leading lights in shining a light on what has been happening. They have done so not only by taking action, by exposing and by urging internati…”

“I am sure you are not suggesting that the UAE should not, for example, be able to defend itself against missiles coming in from Iran or any other attacks on its cities, civilians or infrastructure, and indeed our interest there as well. With respect, there are legitimate exports. There is then the SELC, which we consid…”

“I completely reject that. The Foreign Secretary has regular contact with her counterparts in the UAE, and frank and robust conversations—as you would expect—with any partner over such matters. We have been clear in doing that and raising those concerns.”

“Correct. We have raised and continue to raise that with Israeli counterparts at all levels. Obviously that has influenced the decisions that this Government have taken in relation to, for example, advice on the suspension of licences that were extant at the time that we came into office. Those were the assessments that…”

“We undertake continual assessments and reviews. This is a rolling, ongoing process that looks at a whole range of other contexts as well, and indeed in relation to issues outside the middle east as well. Tom can probably explain a little more about how that process works practically within the team.”

“SAMLA is the overall framework, but within that we have the individual regimes and, below that, designations on individuals and entities. One of the challenges we have is that we do not necessarily have all the regimes in place that we would like to have. I want to pay tribute to our sanctions team: as Chris said, they…”

“indicated assent.”

“I will come back to the timeline in due course. It is quite right that throughout the process Parliament has provided scrutiny, as it has been doing in this debate, which is very welcome.”

“Indeed; that is a fair point, and I appreciate the hon. Gentleman making it. We did appear before the Foreign Affairs Committee, and we have endured scrutiny in the media and from businesses and others—and quite rightly so. On my visit to Gibraltar, I met with the leader of the opposition, businesses and others, who ha…”